EXCRETION

The removal of harmful

metabolic wastes

THE GUT

Not an excretory organ because not metabolic

wastes
Undigested and indigestible substances as faeces

THE LUNG

CO2 excreted by exhalation

THE SKIN

Excretes mainly water, also excess salts and urea

(nitrogenous waste)

THE LIVER

Excess amino acids urea (de-amination)

kidneys

KIDNEYS

Urea and uric acid + water + salts = urine bladder

urination

URINARY SYSTEM (PG241242)

INTERNAL STRUCTURE (PG

243)

MALPIGHIAN BODY

Glomerulus
Bowmans capsule

Podocyt
es

RENAL TUBULE

Proximal convoluted tubule descending limb (loop of

Henley) hair pin bend ascending limb distal
convoluted tubules collecting ducts

STRUCTURE OF NEPHRON

ACTIVITY 2.5.2 PG 245-246

BLOOD SUPPLY TO
NEPHRON

Renal artery afferent arteriole glomerulus

efferent arteriole 2 nd capillary network
venules renal vein heart.

FUNCTIONING OF THE
KIDNEY

BLOOD TO THE KIDNEY

Blood has water, salts, normal corpuscles and

plasma, useful substances (post-digestion) and
harmful substances (nitrogenous waste)

GLOMERULAR FILTRATION

Afferent is wider than efferent arteriole

pressure.
Water, glucose, amino acids, urea, uric acid
and salts move through podocytes called
glomerular FILTRATE renal tubules.

TUBULAR RE-ABSORBTION

Proximal convoluted tubules- Useful substances

(e.g. glucose) and some water
Sodium ions are pumped into the renal medulla.
This causes water to move by osmosis out of the
loop of Henle, distal convoluted tubules and the
collecting ducts

OSMOREGULATION BY ADH
(PG 250-251)

Anti-diuretic hormone has a negative

feedback mechanism.

TUBULAR EXCRETION

Wastes (e.g. ammonia, creatinine, ions [K,

H, Na and bicarbonate] and some drugs)
are excreted from the blood to the tubules
Kidneys regulation of pH see pg 253.
Regulation of sodium in blood see pg 253254
Aldosterone from the adrenal gland causes
sodium to be reabsorbed.

URINE TO BLADDER AND

OUT

After re-absorbtion and excretion, urine

pelvis ureter bladder urethra
exterior.

FUNCTIONS OF THE KIDNEY

Excretion of wastes
Regulation of salt content
Regulation of blood pH
Osmoregulation

STRUCTURAL SUITABILITY
OF THE KIDNEY PG 257

KIDNEY STONES

Undissolved salts form crystals, these can

block tubes within the kidney causing pain.
Treatment: Surgery to remove or
shockwave therapy to break down.

INFECTIONS

Caused by bacteria
Symptoms: fever, blood in urine, frequent
and burning urination.
If not treated it can spread to the kidney
Treatment: antibiotics.

BILHARZIA

Cause: Parasite Schistosoma

Two hosts in life cycle, certain aquatic
snails and humans
Symptoms: itchy skin when infected. Eggs
in bladder cause blood in urine.
Prevention: dont excrete near water.

INJURY TO KIDNEY

Cause: injury to back, e.g. accident, fall, weight lifting etc.

KIDNEY/RENAL FAILURE

When kidneys dont perform their functions

Acute kidney failure: sudden
Chronic kidney failure: develops slowly
Cause: high blood pressure and diabetes.
Symptoms: can be without symptoms until functioning at
25%
If functioning <= 15% very ill
Treatment: dialysis / kidney transplant

DIALYSIS

Haemodialysis: Blood is filtered by a machine see diagrams

pg 262

Peritoneal dialysis:

KIDNEY TRANSPLANT

Kidney obtained from a matched donor. It is inserted as

close as possible to the kidney that is damaged.